Verb

1 assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or
existing; "He claimed that he killed the burglar" [ant: disclaim]

2 demand as being one's due or property; assert
one's right or title to; "He claimed his suitcases at the airline
counter"; "Mr. Smith claims special tax exemptions because he is a
foreign resident" [syn: lay claim,
arrogate] [ant:
forfeit]

3 ask for legally or make a legal claim to, as of
debts, for example; "They claimed on the maximum allowable
amount"

4 lay claim to; as of an idea; "She took credit
for the whole idea" [syn: take] [ant: disclaim]

5 take as an undesirable consequence of some
event or state of affairs; "the accident claimed three lives"; "The
hard work took its toll on her" [syn: take, exact]